Listening to the grassroots

Our house is open to all". These were the Prime Minister's words during the inauguration of the new Nationalist Party headquarters a few weeks ago. I firmly believe that this is precisely one of the most important tasks that the new general secretary has to undertake, that is to ensure that the PN is really open to all those willing to contribute in order to ensure that the PN's policies remain in line with reality and reflect the will and the needs of the people. This is what a political party should represent and this is what our aim should be. A building alone does not constitute a political party. No election victory is built on mere stone. We need to make sure that we remain the party of the people, an organisation that is open to everyone and that is ready to change when required to do so. By continuing on this path we can only guarantee more electoral victories in the near future.

In Maltese politics, maybe more than anywhere else in Europe, the grassroots play an important part; they are the ones that keep the party alive and I feel that their involvement is crucial. However, I think that many of them have been involved solely from a logistical aspect of the organisation and it is about time that they should be more involved in the political aspect. It is the grassroots that have the true feel of the people. They are the ones that mingle with society on all levels. They are the ones who can grasp better what the man in the street thinks, what the needs of the citizens are and where we can improve to make our society a better one.

Hence, we should give more importance to the sectional committees in all localities. The members of these committees contribute a lot to the party and we should make sure that we make the most out of these citizens. The party should reinforce the commitment and dedication of these people within the party and engage them more when it comes to setting the party's political strategy and agenda. These people should have a bigger and improved role in our political set up because they will also contribute to ensure there will be more triumphs in the near future. Having said that, their job shouldn't only be to organise coffee mornings or any other political activities. Mind you, these things are important too, but they can have a more significant responsibility within the party because they form part of the party grassroots.

Even if the PN achieved three consecutive wins, we still need to continue heeding our grassroots, receive informed feedback and work that feedback into our general political policy.

Maybe no one more than the new PN general secretary, Paul Borg Olivier knows better what an important role the grassroots play. Dr Borg Olivier has lived practically all his life with the grassroots and I am sure that he will involve them in policy-making while being accessible to them to hear what ideas they might have, what worries and what suggestions they have. The new PN general secretary has been politically involved in the party for more than 20 years. He was general secretary and president of the Nationalist Party Youth Movement and was then elected to the executive of the PN College of Councillors. Additionally, he was also part of the PN administrative council for three years and has sat on the party's executive committee since 1990.

I am sure that Dr Borg Oliver is the man our party needs at this stage. He can continue on the pathway of his predecessor, Joe Saliba, and achieve remarkable results.

His charisma, political knowledge and skills, enthusiasm and will power are compatible with those of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. This is why I am confident that Dr Borg Oliver was the right choice.

I wish Dr Borg Olivier the best of luck in his new mission within the party. I am sure that he will reach his goals as I can clearly describe him as a hard-working person, full of energy and determined to be successful in his work.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.

david.casa@europarl.europa.eu, www.davidcasa.eu